The Ramones expressed a disdain for politics in one of their last hits, "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg," a commentary on Ronald Reagan's visit to the former Nazi enclave.
Joey sang:
"There's one thing that makes me sick,
Is when someone tries to hide behind politics.
Wish time would go by fast,
Somehow they manage to make it last."
Johnny Ramone, one of the rare right wing rock stars, did not necessarily share Joey's anti-Reagan sentiment and his widow Linda Cummings continues to proffer political support on behalf of her late husband. McCain's kid, it turns out, is quite the fan.
Rather than use her married name of Cummings, Linda is invoking the name Ramone, which has the president of the Ramones empire up in arms.
"As a president of Ramones Productions, and brother of Joey Ramone, I just want it to be clear that Linda Cummings does not represent the political views of the Ramones," Mickey Leigh said in a statement issued over the weekend. " Surely, as for Joey Ramone, the only Ramones song he would sing at a Republican campaign event would be ‘Glad To See You Go!’
“I should add that when Johnny stated ‘God Bless George Bush’ at the 2002 Rock&Roll Hall of Fame awards, I realize now that he was on to something. Because if it were not for George Bush and his handling of our country the past 8 years, I doubt so many Americans, including so many highly regarded Republicans, would now be getting behind Barack Obama. So, yes, God bless George Bush for paving the way to Obama.”

  A reunion of Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom - Handsome Dick Manitoba, Andy Shernoff, Ross the Boss and JP Thunderbolt - will be among the key acts at the eighth annual Joey Ramone Birthday bash on Monday at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza.
Mary Weiss of the Shangri-La's and Television guitarist Richard Lloyd will headline.
Celebrating what would have been Joey's 57th birthday, party will conclude with the Joey Ramone Birthday Bashers featuring Jesse Malin, Cheetah Chrome, Walter Lure, Tish & Snooky, Jean Beauvior, Shernoff, Joe McGinty, Thunderbolt, Al Maddy, Ivan Julian, Bobby Steele and Joey's brother, Mickey Leigh.  Also appearing are Charm School, Semi-Precious Weapons, the Independents, Local H, L.E.S. Stitches and Rachel Newman. Sean O’Sullivan's Punk Pipers will round out the night on the bagpipes.   “Little Steven” Van Zandt, Matt Pinfield and Peter Aschner will be the emcees. Tickets are $25 ($30 day of show).

Starz Cinema will air "Too Tough To Die: A Tribute To Johnny Ramone" on Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
TV debut coincides with the third anniversary of the death of the Ramones' guitarist. Johnny  passed away just three days after this 30th anniversary concert tribute was staged.
Pic is directed by Mandy Stein. Yes, she's Seymour's daughter but she also made a glorious film about blues artists who reorded for Fat Possum, among them R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, titled
"You See Me Laughin'." (It was her debut).
"Too Tough To Die" includes performances by Tommy, Marky & CJ Ramone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dickies, X, Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins and Pete Yorn. Remembrances of Johnny are proffered by Lisa Marie Presley, Sonic Youth, Debbie Harry, Nicolas Cage and many of the participating musicians.

In celebrating the life of CBGB owner Hilly Kristal, we offer a set list from the New York punk club's finest, the Ramones. By the release of their third album, they had outgrown the club and, after playing the Rainbow in London on New Year's Eve, Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy returned to New York to play the Palladium on Jan. 7, 1978. In less than an hour, they played:
Rockaway Beach / Lobotomy / Blitzkrieg Bop / I Wanna be Well / Glad to See You Go / Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment / You're Gonna Kill That Girl / I Don't Care / Sheena is a Punk Rocker / Havana Affair / Commando / Here Today, Gone Tomorrow / Surfin' Bird / Cretin Hop / Listen to My Heart / California Sun / I Don;t Wanna Walk Around With You / Pinhead / Do You Wanna Dance / Chainsaw / Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World / Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy / Suzy is a Headbanger / Let's Dance / Oh Oh I Lover Her So / Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue / We're a Happy Family

Nickelodeon will premiere a live-acton music series titled "Yo Gabba Gabba" on Aug. 20 that, obviously, seems mighty close to "Gabba Gabba Hey," the rallying cry of the Ramones in the '70s.
The similarities are remarkable.
The Ramones got out their "Gabba Gabba" message by having a guy hold up a sign amid a crowd of oddballs. So does Nick.
Nick says their "Gabba" will provide "simple life lessons." The Ramones, too, provided simple life lessons, including beating on brats, getting a girlfriend and sniffing glue.
Nick's "Gabba," their press release reads, has "an original beat-driven soundtrack." Is there anything more beat driven than the 1-2-3-4 count of the Ramones?
Nick has a hiphop "legend" in Biz Markie in a recurring role. Dee Dee Ramone once made a rap album.
Bands that will appear on Nickelodeon include the Aquabats, the Aggrolites, the Shins and the Postmarks.  Once again, the Ramones stand out as true originals.